Job Discussion Forums

[laluna]

Hello all....I'm a 'newbie' as we are called. And have some questions. I've been reading through as many of the previous threads as I can so as to not repeat questions...LOTS of great information you all have shared. Thank you! But I may ask some questions you have already answered maybe many times! Apologies ahead of time. if that's the case.

I'm newly certified via a CTESL 3 month 200hr university program here in Winnipeg. I don't have a degree (just half of a BFA I started ummm..27 years ago!! and never finished--kicking myself about that now!!--looking at doing that now at 47 ,but would rather move on with other things of life) but am a Registered Midwife of 15 years with mentoring & teaching experience as far as students, workshops, conferences, childbirth education....also a trained group facilitator etc etc...loads of prior learning type qualifications that probably qualify for an equivalency to a degree. And I LOVE to teach. And I'm not looking to make tons of $$, just to pay my expenses and save a little bit.

Anyway...am driven by this passion (like many of you no doubt) to immerse myself in LA culture. I've been travelling down the last 3 yrs for spanish immersions (Guatemala and Mexico) and now need to live somewhere there. And explore work options...so took the TESL course and am looking for work in either or both fieds--midwife and/or EFL teacher.

Though not my preferred location, am currently looking at Playa and area as I have met someone who lives in Cancun...you know how love does things.....anyway, wondering if anyone can tell me about schools in Playa and area (even up the pacific coast) as well as tips on cost of living..i.e, renting an apt or house in Playa and what I might expect. Or direct me to previous threads on the subject that I've missed.

And of course, any other advice would be most welcome. I am going to check things out at the end of Oct when down in Cancun for 10 days. The main points I've picked up are: be prepared with some $$ for getting started....; don't expect to make any $$ (that u can save really) for a year-especially as a new teacher; sometimes easier/better? to just go down and look for a job while there in person; best times for job openings are Sept and Jan.

Am I on the right track?

Have many more questions...but won't overload it on this one post.

Thanks for any replies

[Ben Round de Bloc]

I think it would be possible but difficult in Cancun with its very high cost of living and lots of competition for jobs. If you have the qualifications and connections to get a job teaching English at one of the wealthier private fresa schools, you might do okay or at least earn enough to make ends meet.

The CELTA is offered in Playa del Carmen, so I would imagine you'd be competing for jobs against lots of graduates from that course there.

As for the midwife thing, sorry, WAY out of my field. I haven't a clue.

[ls650]

One of the teachers from this school (a state university) recently moved to Playa del Carmen because her significant other works there. She told me a couple of days ago that she can make more money in PdC working as a receptionist in a 5-star hotel than as an English teacher.

She speaks a low level of Spanish, so I asked her if that wasn't a problem. Supposedly the high end hotels there want staff who speak excellent English because of all the foreign tourists, and Spanish is useful but not required! It sounds crazy to me, but she's not the type to BS.

[Guy Courchesne]

Doesn't surprise me at all LS...I was in both Cancun and Playa recently, and try as I might, no one would speak Spanish to me. A transplanted chilango told me that for Mexicans, you don't even bother trying to seek a job there if your English isn't near perfect.

[PlayadelSoul]

It depends on where you work. For example, we pay anywhere from 76 to 89 pesos an hour, depending on experience and bonuses. I don't think you will find many front desk workers making that.

There are many people here who do not speak a lot of English. Thats a good thing, for us. Immigration in Playa usually asks that you be able to communicate in at least 2 languages if you are a foreigner. Front desk jobs are usually reserved for Mexicans, but there are exceptions.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[PlayadelSoul]

[laluna]

hey thanks everyone for your input..... does anyone know where I can get a listing of schools in Cancun and Playa? I'd like to visit them in person when I'm there in a couple of weeks. I have only been able to find one in Playa called Playalingua..... is that your school, PlayadelSoul?

Well...it's turning cooler here in sunny Winnipeg and the fall colours are AWESOME! It's just the snow flurries in the forecast that have me wondering what the &(*# I am still doing living away up here!

Oh ya...when in Cancun for 3 weeks in August I spent a lot of time speaking spanish to everyone I met, in fact many people I met [b]didn't [/b]speak English....but I was living and hanging out in el centro, and only spending some days on the beach in the hotel zone....

thanks again
Anessa